The Nature of Man
II
All of the philosophical and theological traditions of the
world have proposed that deities, as worshipped by the various people, bear the
faces of their worshippers. Such was famously observed by Plato. Moreover, all
have generally tended towards the fact that humans were created in the lowest
scheme of Creation, as mere pawns or menial products of the creative work of
some deities.
III
The Christian proposition, as naturally matured from the
traditions of Judaism, radically refutes such propositions. The Creator reveals
to us that we are the “sons of the Most High” and heirs of His Heavenly
Kingdom. Even though we were created last, and the angels hold beginnings far
earlier than those of man, it is us who serve as princes of Heaven, and for
whom all Creation was brought into being. Thus, the word of God is fulfilled,
when Jesus said, “The first shall be the last, and the last shall be the
first.”
IV
The Christian proposition does therefore empower and
challenge the statesman to treat man as he is, and to govern men as they are.
Man is not a slave. Man is not an animal. Man is a child of God, and until
statesmen govern children of God as older brothers, they shall not have the
peace of the children of God. For to live a human life is to worship God. The
help others live a human life is to bring God into the world. To do either is
to do the Will of God.
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